wef 1 Dec 2014
Monday, 24 November 2014
Thursday, 20 November 2014
More rainy days expected with start of north-east monsoon
More rainy days expected with start of north-east monsoon: Met Service Singapore
Singapore can expect more rainy days with the onset of the north-east monsoon later this month, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said on Tuesday. -- ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN
Moderate to heavy showers and possibly even flash floods are on the cards over the coming weeks with the onset of the northeast monsoon season, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) warned on Tuesday.
The first half of November has already been wetter than usual in many parts of the island, with 188mm of rainfall recorded at Changi climate station, the MSS said.
This year, rainfall for November and December – typically the months with the most rain – is expected to be about 20 per cent above the long-term average of 256.6mm and 288.4mm respectively.
Typically lasting from late November to January, the season is expected to cause between two and four monsoon surges. These usually bring periods of prolonged widespread moderate to heavy rain lasting between two and five days, occasionally windy conditions, and cooler temperatures.
A monsoon surge refers to the steady strengthening of north-easterly winds blowing from the South China Sea.
In addition to the regular weather forecast, the MSS will issue warnings when heavy rain or prolonged monsoon rain is expected.
"This will help the public to better prepare for heavy rain," it said in an advisory. "Heavy rain coinciding with high tides could lead to localised flash floods in low-lying areas."
National water agency the PUB is also working with the National Environment Agency's Department of Public Cleanliness to ensure that drains remain free-flowing.
PUB officers will also inspect 100 major construction worksites to ensure that nearby drains are free of debris.
They will also monitor 171 water level sensors installed in major drains and canals as well as 161 CCTV cameras that monitor road conditions in low lying areas and other hotspots.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Singapore can expect more rainy days with the onset of the north-east monsoon later this month, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said on Tuesday. -- ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN
Moderate to heavy showers and possibly even flash floods are on the cards over the coming weeks with the onset of the northeast monsoon season, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) warned on Tuesday.
The first half of November has already been wetter than usual in many parts of the island, with 188mm of rainfall recorded at Changi climate station, the MSS said.
This year, rainfall for November and December – typically the months with the most rain – is expected to be about 20 per cent above the long-term average of 256.6mm and 288.4mm respectively.
Typically lasting from late November to January, the season is expected to cause between two and four monsoon surges. These usually bring periods of prolonged widespread moderate to heavy rain lasting between two and five days, occasionally windy conditions, and cooler temperatures.
A monsoon surge refers to the steady strengthening of north-easterly winds blowing from the South China Sea.
In addition to the regular weather forecast, the MSS will issue warnings when heavy rain or prolonged monsoon rain is expected.
"This will help the public to better prepare for heavy rain," it said in an advisory. "Heavy rain coinciding with high tides could lead to localised flash floods in low-lying areas."
National water agency the PUB is also working with the National Environment Agency's Department of Public Cleanliness to ensure that drains remain free-flowing.
PUB officers will also inspect 100 major construction worksites to ensure that nearby drains are free of debris.
They will also monitor 171 water level sensors installed in major drains and canals as well as 161 CCTV cameras that monitor road conditions in low lying areas and other hotspots.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve extension opens Dec 6
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve extension opens Dec 6
Visitors to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve extension will be able to step onto mudflats and get up close with creatures, and enjoy a scenic mid-canopy walk and coastal boardwalk when it opens on Dec 6.
In the mid-canopy walk, visitors can immerse themselves in the understory of a secondary forest through an elevated boardwalk, where they can spot birds such as Pied Fantails and insects like cicadas.
The coastal boardwalk offers views of the Kranji waterfront with a lookout point where raptors such as the Ospreys and White-Bellied Sea Eagles can be spotted hunting for prey.
New programmes will also be offered at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, and six new guided walks will be conducted on Saturdays by student volunteers.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Visitors to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve extension will be able to step onto mudflats and get up close with creatures, and enjoy a scenic mid-canopy walk and coastal boardwalk when it opens on Dec 6.
In the mid-canopy walk, visitors can immerse themselves in the understory of a secondary forest through an elevated boardwalk, where they can spot birds such as Pied Fantails and insects like cicadas.
The coastal boardwalk offers views of the Kranji waterfront with a lookout point where raptors such as the Ospreys and White-Bellied Sea Eagles can be spotted hunting for prey.
New programmes will also be offered at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, and six new guided walks will be conducted on Saturdays by student volunteers.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Gardens by the Bay's 1st visitor mobile app
Gardens by the Bay launches 1st visitor mobile app sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies
Gardens by the Bay has launched a mobile app, available in five languages, that acts as a guide, educational tool and game for its visitors. -- SCREENGRAB OF APP FROM GOOGLE PLAY STORE
Its first app is available in five languages - English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and Japanese - and is sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Dr Tan Wee Kiat, chief executive of Gardens by the Bay, said: "This app seeks to transform the way that visitors interact and engage with the plants on display by...(bringing) to life the stories of nature on their personal mobile devices."
Within the app is a multimedia guide to the plant life in the Gardens, an interactive map and educational games.
It encourages visitors to explore hidden locations, and earn virtual rewards for finding these secret spots and completing challenges.
Mr Michael Bloomberg, former New York mayor and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: "Gardens by the Bay came up with a really imaginative way to use mobile technology to help more people explore and interact with its exhibits. Its app is a great tool for learning about nature, no matter where you are."
Gardens by the Bay is the latest cultural institution in Asia to be included in Bloomberg Connects, a global commitment that provides funding for the development of technology to increase access to cultural attractions and enrich visitors' experiences. Bloomberg Connects has also provided funding for technology at other institutions including the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tate Modern as well as the Metropolitan Opera, and The New York Botanical Garden.
The Gardens by the Bay app is free and available for download on both iTunes and Google Play. Information on the app is available at www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/mobileapp.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Gardens by the Bay has launched a mobile app, available in five languages, that acts as a guide, educational tool and game for its visitors. -- SCREENGRAB OF APP FROM GOOGLE PLAY STORE
Its first app is available in five languages - English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and Japanese - and is sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Dr Tan Wee Kiat, chief executive of Gardens by the Bay, said: "This app seeks to transform the way that visitors interact and engage with the plants on display by...(bringing) to life the stories of nature on their personal mobile devices."
Within the app is a multimedia guide to the plant life in the Gardens, an interactive map and educational games.
It encourages visitors to explore hidden locations, and earn virtual rewards for finding these secret spots and completing challenges.
Mr Michael Bloomberg, former New York mayor and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: "Gardens by the Bay came up with a really imaginative way to use mobile technology to help more people explore and interact with its exhibits. Its app is a great tool for learning about nature, no matter where you are."
Gardens by the Bay is the latest cultural institution in Asia to be included in Bloomberg Connects, a global commitment that provides funding for the development of technology to increase access to cultural attractions and enrich visitors' experiences. Bloomberg Connects has also provided funding for technology at other institutions including the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tate Modern as well as the Metropolitan Opera, and The New York Botanical Garden.
The Gardens by the Bay app is free and available for download on both iTunes and Google Play. Information on the app is available at www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/mobileapp.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Saturday, 15 November 2014
Changi Airport T1 carpark closure
Smooth sailing on first day of Changi Airport T1 carpark closure
Some 50 marshals have been deployed at both airport terminals to help guide drivers.
The permanent closure of Changi Airport's Terminal 1 (T1) carpark came into effect without a hitch yesterday, after kinks were ironed out in a trial closure last month.
There was no sign of confusion when The Straits Times visited the airport between 8am and 10.30am. Traffic was smooth at both T1 and Terminal 2 (T2), where a replacement carpark was located. Drivers interviewed said the road signs and lane markings were clear and that it was easy to find their way around.
Taxi driver Abdul Razak, 56, said he found his way to the new carpark easily, despite taking a wrong turn.
"I didn't know the carpark will be closed from today and so just blindly took my usual route to the old T1 carpark," he said.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Some 50 marshals have been deployed at both airport terminals to help guide drivers.
The permanent closure of Changi Airport's Terminal 1 (T1) carpark came into effect without a hitch yesterday, after kinks were ironed out in a trial closure last month.
There was no sign of confusion when The Straits Times visited the airport between 8am and 10.30am. Traffic was smooth at both T1 and Terminal 2 (T2), where a replacement carpark was located. Drivers interviewed said the road signs and lane markings were clear and that it was easy to find their way around.
Taxi driver Abdul Razak, 56, said he found his way to the new carpark easily, despite taking a wrong turn.
"I didn't know the carpark will be closed from today and so just blindly took my usual route to the old T1 carpark," he said.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Friday, 14 November 2014
Orchard Road goes colourful for Christmas to celebrate Singapore's diversity
Orchard Road goes colourful for Christmas to celebrate Singapore's diversity
This year's Christmas light-up along Orchard Road include multi-coloured Christmas trees and glittering blue snowflakes.
It will be a colourful Christmas at Orchard Road this year.
Multi-coloured Christmas trees and glittering blue snowflakes will line the shopping street from Tanglin Mall to Plaza Singapura from this Saturday.
The many colours reflect Singapore's diversity as it celebrates 50 years of nationhood next year, said Mrs May Sng, chairman of the Orchard Road Business Association (Orba), which is behind the light-up. The festive decorations the past few years had stuck to one or two colours, she added.
Adding a nostalgic touch is a photo exhibition on the past Christmas celebrations at Orchard Road, dating back to 1984. To be held outside Shaw House Urban Plaza, it commemorates 50 years of tourism development in Singapore.
Both the light-up, back for its 31st year, and the exhibition will run from Nov 15 to Jan 1. Called Christmas on A Great Street, the light-up stretches 2.88km and will start at 6.30pm each evening during the seven-week period.
Other highlights include a mass carolling event at the Tong Building plaza on Christmas Eve and a concert on Christmas Day. There will also be specially designed glittering structures set up at different points along the shopping belt for shoppers to snap a photo with. They come in the form of a Christmas gift box, photo frame and window, among others.
Orba has raised almost $3 million for the Community Chest by offering several of these Christmas set pieces as a fundraising platform. The pieces will feature logos of corporate entities that contributed to the charity.
Visitors will also be able to walk under the Christmas lights along a vehicle-free Orchard Road on the night of Dec 6. The street's third pedestrian night will feature outdoor screenings of local films, bouncy castles for children and photo opportunities with Christmas mascots, said Singapore Tourism Board's director of lifestyle precincts development, Ms Tan Yen Nee.
The pedestrianisation of Orchard Road is a six-month initiative where the street is closed to cars every first Saturday night of each month until March next year.
President Tony Tan Keng Yam will switch on the lights during a ceremony at Shaw House Urban Plaza on Nov 15.
Volunteers will be giving out 5,000 multi-coloured light sticks outside Ion Orchard that day, and the organisers have pledged to donate $1 to the Community Chest for every light stick distributed to the public.
Twelve malls will also be vying for the title of Best Dressed Building this year. The public can vote via the free mobile app, @Orchard, between Nov 15 and Nov 30 and stand to win $3,000 worth of shopping vouchers.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
This year's Christmas light-up along Orchard Road include multi-coloured Christmas trees and glittering blue snowflakes.
It will be a colourful Christmas at Orchard Road this year.
Multi-coloured Christmas trees and glittering blue snowflakes will line the shopping street from Tanglin Mall to Plaza Singapura from this Saturday.
The many colours reflect Singapore's diversity as it celebrates 50 years of nationhood next year, said Mrs May Sng, chairman of the Orchard Road Business Association (Orba), which is behind the light-up. The festive decorations the past few years had stuck to one or two colours, she added.
Adding a nostalgic touch is a photo exhibition on the past Christmas celebrations at Orchard Road, dating back to 1984. To be held outside Shaw House Urban Plaza, it commemorates 50 years of tourism development in Singapore.
Both the light-up, back for its 31st year, and the exhibition will run from Nov 15 to Jan 1. Called Christmas on A Great Street, the light-up stretches 2.88km and will start at 6.30pm each evening during the seven-week period.
Other highlights include a mass carolling event at the Tong Building plaza on Christmas Eve and a concert on Christmas Day. There will also be specially designed glittering structures set up at different points along the shopping belt for shoppers to snap a photo with. They come in the form of a Christmas gift box, photo frame and window, among others.
Orba has raised almost $3 million for the Community Chest by offering several of these Christmas set pieces as a fundraising platform. The pieces will feature logos of corporate entities that contributed to the charity.
Visitors will also be able to walk under the Christmas lights along a vehicle-free Orchard Road on the night of Dec 6. The street's third pedestrian night will feature outdoor screenings of local films, bouncy castles for children and photo opportunities with Christmas mascots, said Singapore Tourism Board's director of lifestyle precincts development, Ms Tan Yen Nee.
The pedestrianisation of Orchard Road is a six-month initiative where the street is closed to cars every first Saturday night of each month until March next year.
President Tony Tan Keng Yam will switch on the lights during a ceremony at Shaw House Urban Plaza on Nov 15.
Volunteers will be giving out 5,000 multi-coloured light sticks outside Ion Orchard that day, and the organisers have pledged to donate $1 to the Community Chest for every light stick distributed to the public.
Twelve malls will also be vying for the title of Best Dressed Building this year. The public can vote via the free mobile app, @Orchard, between Nov 15 and Nov 30 and stand to win $3,000 worth of shopping vouchers.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Monday, 10 November 2014
STB to correct Lau Pa Sat sign and tighten translation process
STB to correct Lau Pa Sat sign and tighten translation process
A photo of the wrong Tamil translation of popular food destination Lau Pa Sat on a signboard is making its rounds on Facebook.
The Lau Pa Sat sign which was incorrectly translated has been removed and will be corrected, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said in a statement on Friday.
STB also said that it will tighten the process of translating its brown signs, which indicate tourist attractions or landmarks.
"We had notified the operator and they had taken immediate steps to remove the sign and work on correcting the translation," Ms Ranita Sundramoorthy, director of attractions, dining and retail said in the statement, referring to the erroneous Lau Pa Sat sign.
She added that the board will ensure the new sign is checked by language experts.
A photo of the sign, which translated "Sat" as "Sani" or Saturday in Tamil, was being circulated on social networks. The word can have a negative connotation, and can be used to curse people.
Mr Samikannu Sithambaram, president of the Singapore Tamil Teachers' Union, told The Straits Times on Thursday that the mistake could have come about because the translators thought that "Sat" in Lau Pa Sat was a truncation of "Saturday".
STB said that owners of attractions are required to get a qualified translator for their signs, but it will add a layer of checks for them.
"We will tighten the process further to mandate a system of checks on translations for compliance by all brown sign applicants," said Ms Sundramoorthy.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
A photo of the wrong Tamil translation of popular food destination Lau Pa Sat on a signboard is making its rounds on Facebook.
The Lau Pa Sat sign which was incorrectly translated has been removed and will be corrected, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said in a statement on Friday.
STB also said that it will tighten the process of translating its brown signs, which indicate tourist attractions or landmarks.
"We had notified the operator and they had taken immediate steps to remove the sign and work on correcting the translation," Ms Ranita Sundramoorthy, director of attractions, dining and retail said in the statement, referring to the erroneous Lau Pa Sat sign.
She added that the board will ensure the new sign is checked by language experts.
A photo of the sign, which translated "Sat" as "Sani" or Saturday in Tamil, was being circulated on social networks. The word can have a negative connotation, and can be used to curse people.
Mr Samikannu Sithambaram, president of the Singapore Tamil Teachers' Union, told The Straits Times on Thursday that the mistake could have come about because the translators thought that "Sat" in Lau Pa Sat was a truncation of "Saturday".
STB said that owners of attractions are required to get a qualified translator for their signs, but it will add a layer of checks for them.
"We will tighten the process further to mandate a system of checks on translations for compliance by all brown sign applicants," said Ms Sundramoorthy.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Saturday, 8 November 2014
Changi T1 carpark closes next Wednesday
Changi T1 carpark closes next Wednesday
The announcement of the closure of the Terminal 1 carpark follows the completion of a four-day trial to test the new transport arrangements.
The open-air carpark in front of Changi Airport Terminal 1 will be closed permanently at 2am next Wednesday, signalling that work will soon start on Project Jewel.
The new multi-storey complex to be built at the site will integrate retail, leisure and airport operations, and house an underground carpark with 2,500 spaces.
This is about three times more than the number of spaces at the current T1 carpark.
But it will be ready only in 2018 and, until then, motorists will have to put up with some inconvenience.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
The announcement of the closure of the Terminal 1 carpark follows the completion of a four-day trial to test the new transport arrangements.
The open-air carpark in front of Changi Airport Terminal 1 will be closed permanently at 2am next Wednesday, signalling that work will soon start on Project Jewel.
The new multi-storey complex to be built at the site will integrate retail, leisure and airport operations, and house an underground carpark with 2,500 spaces.
This is about three times more than the number of spaces at the current T1 carpark.
But it will be ready only in 2018 and, until then, motorists will have to put up with some inconvenience.
~News courtesy of Straits Times~
Friday, 7 November 2014
Tourists, don't fall prey to shady shops
Tourists, don't fall prey to shady shops
This mobile-phone shop at Sim Lim Square scammed a Vietnamese tourist earlier this week. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Chinese travellers about buying mobile phones and electronic products here, while Vietnamese newspapers have urged people to be wary of the dubious tactics of some shops here. (PHOTO: LIANHE WANBAO)
SHADY mobile-phone stores in Singapore have won themselves dubious honours abroad, even as reports emerge that sales assistants at these shops can earn $20,000 a month in commissions if sales are good.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned travellers from the country about buying mobile phones and electronic products here.
It said on its website on Wednesday that last year, many Chinese tourists were cheated in Singapore when buying gadgets.
Addressing this issue, the ministry reminded Chinese travellers to be on the lookout for stores that have received complaints and avoid making purchases at such shops.
Vietnamese newspapers have also urged people to be wary of the dubious tactics of some shops here, The Straits Times reported yesterday.
This comes after news of errant stores here, such as a mobile-phone shop at Sim Lim Square - Mobile Air - which gave a customer a refund of more than $1,000 in coins last week.
The same shop also scammed a Vietnamese tourist this week, reducing him to tears.
And it can be good business for some shops to cheat customers. On Wednesday, a former employee of one such shop decided to expose the underhand tactics of the likes of his former employer.
"It's very good money," said the man, who wanted to be known only as Mr Chen, 26, Lianhe Wanbao reported. "But I didn't want to cheat people any more."
He quit after six months because his conscience was troubling him.
From his experience, selling a mobile phone can net a few hundred dollars in profit.
"The shop could sell a few sets a day and earn thousands a day," Mr Chen said. "I've heard of some assistants earning $10,000 to $20,000 a month," he added.
The targets of such rogue shops? Tourists, maids, foreign workers and senior citizens.
Tourists with luggage are hot favourites because they are often rushing to the airport and are unlikely to return, so they are less hassle for the shops.
Mr Chen said the stores would also frighten maids and foreign workers who made a fuss by warning them that calls to their bosses and agencies would be made to send them back to their home countries, so they could not continue working here.
Senior citizens and "uncles" with young female partners are also easy targets "because their hearing isn't very good, so it's possible to fudge things and dupe them". Those with female partners are unlikely to make a scene if their partners are their mistresses.
Most of the phones sold by these shops are second-hand handsets repackaged to look new, said Mr Chen.
Scam tactics include:
Listing phone prices below market rate.
Not allowing customers to examine goods unless they pay first.
Selling international warranty that is not valid.
Not being upfront about the costs for the "warranty" and tricking customers into thinking that the prices are low.
Selling customers who opt out of the warranty package high-quality counterfeit phones.
Charging high prices for "high-quality, imported" accessories.
Selling "newer" models of a phone at a "discounted" rate.
~News courtesy of Omy~
This mobile-phone shop at Sim Lim Square scammed a Vietnamese tourist earlier this week. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Chinese travellers about buying mobile phones and electronic products here, while Vietnamese newspapers have urged people to be wary of the dubious tactics of some shops here. (PHOTO: LIANHE WANBAO)
SHADY mobile-phone stores in Singapore have won themselves dubious honours abroad, even as reports emerge that sales assistants at these shops can earn $20,000 a month in commissions if sales are good.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned travellers from the country about buying mobile phones and electronic products here.
It said on its website on Wednesday that last year, many Chinese tourists were cheated in Singapore when buying gadgets.
Addressing this issue, the ministry reminded Chinese travellers to be on the lookout for stores that have received complaints and avoid making purchases at such shops.
Vietnamese newspapers have also urged people to be wary of the dubious tactics of some shops here, The Straits Times reported yesterday.
This comes after news of errant stores here, such as a mobile-phone shop at Sim Lim Square - Mobile Air - which gave a customer a refund of more than $1,000 in coins last week.
The same shop also scammed a Vietnamese tourist this week, reducing him to tears.
And it can be good business for some shops to cheat customers. On Wednesday, a former employee of one such shop decided to expose the underhand tactics of the likes of his former employer.
"It's very good money," said the man, who wanted to be known only as Mr Chen, 26, Lianhe Wanbao reported. "But I didn't want to cheat people any more."
He quit after six months because his conscience was troubling him.
From his experience, selling a mobile phone can net a few hundred dollars in profit.
"The shop could sell a few sets a day and earn thousands a day," Mr Chen said. "I've heard of some assistants earning $10,000 to $20,000 a month," he added.
The targets of such rogue shops? Tourists, maids, foreign workers and senior citizens.
Tourists with luggage are hot favourites because they are often rushing to the airport and are unlikely to return, so they are less hassle for the shops.
Mr Chen said the stores would also frighten maids and foreign workers who made a fuss by warning them that calls to their bosses and agencies would be made to send them back to their home countries, so they could not continue working here.
Senior citizens and "uncles" with young female partners are also easy targets "because their hearing isn't very good, so it's possible to fudge things and dupe them". Those with female partners are unlikely to make a scene if their partners are their mistresses.
Most of the phones sold by these shops are second-hand handsets repackaged to look new, said Mr Chen.
Scam tactics include:
Listing phone prices below market rate.
Not allowing customers to examine goods unless they pay first.
Selling international warranty that is not valid.
Not being upfront about the costs for the "warranty" and tricking customers into thinking that the prices are low.
Selling customers who opt out of the warranty package high-quality counterfeit phones.
Charging high prices for "high-quality, imported" accessories.
Selling "newer" models of a phone at a "discounted" rate.
~News courtesy of Omy~
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